Dear Catholic business owners

I've been frustrated lately by interactions with two Catholic businesses and without naming any names I have to say that I really wish four  things:

1. If you intend to have a going concern get your business model straight. Do not send me letters or e-mail hinting that I'm not a good Catholic if I don't buy your product to help you pull you  out of insolvency.  A number of Catholic publishers have played this game in recent years and it always ticks me off. Pity and guilt is not how you market a business.
   
2. Act like you know what you are doing. I expect the same level of professionalism from you as I would from a totally secular business. If you ship me a product and it doesn't arrive in three weeks and you did not send it book rate or live in another country don't get huffy when I inquire as to the product's whereabouts and communicate honestly with your customer who has spent good money with you.
   
3. Have a product worth repeat business. If your product is substandard why do think I should buy it?
   
4. Don't oversell to ridiculous lengths.  Your movie with its bad acting, anachronistic language, and poor technical quality  is not the greatest thing since The Passion of Christ.
   
5. I'll say it again. Get your  business model straight.     

at prayer

Return O ye revolting children...

The most evident mark of God's anger and the most terrible castigation He can inflict upon the world are manifested when He permits His people to fall into the hands of clergy who are priests more in name than in deed, priests who practice the cruelty of ravening wolves rather than charity and affection of devoted shepherds ...

When God permits such things, it is a very positive proof that He is thoroughly angry with His people, and is visiting His most dreadful anger upon them. That is why He cries unceasingly to Christians, "Return O ye revolting children ... and I will give you pastors according to My own heart". (Jer. 3:14,15) Thus, irregularities in the lives of priests constitute a scourge upon the people in consequence of sin.
-St. John Eudes

To the Blessed Sacrament

I adore Thee profoundly, my Jesus, the Living Bread which has come down from heaven; and by this act of adoration I would make amends for all the acts of irreverence which Thy people day by day commit whilst they assist at Holy Mass, in which bloodless Sacrifice Thou dost renew the very Sacrifice which once Thou didst consummate on Calvary for our salvation. I offer Thee, in reparation for all this ingratitude, that most Precious Blood which Thou didst shed from the wound in Thy Right Hand; and, entering therein, I unite my voice with the voices of the holy angels who adore around Thy throne:
Blessed and praised every moment
Be the most holy and divine Sacrament!
Pater noster. Ave Maria. Gloria Patri.


Taken from the Raccolta

A Dutch Madonna

Like his good friend, Gari Melchers, George Hitchcock fell in love with the Dutch country side and he painted Our Lady as a Dutch girl.

They rented the Sistine Chapel?

So Porcshe rented the Sistine Chapel for a corporate event. The Vatican spokesmen say it's okay because charity money was raised. Supposedly the only real difference from this and allowing tourists in to look at the chapel is that the Porsche guests were better dressed and weren't sweaty and stinky. I am reminded of the  time Jesus took exception to money being raised in His Father's house.

Jesus never said it would be soft and easy

This Russian painting shows the first Christians in Kiev attending a clandestine Mass by moonlight.

Madonna and Child

To the Blessed Sacrament..

I adore Thee profoundly, my Jesus, true Bread of life eternal; and by this my act of adoration I would make Thee compensation for all the wounds with which Thy Sacred Heart bleeds daily to see the profanation of those churches wherein Thou dost vouchsafe to abide beneath the sacramental species, to receive the love and adoration of Thy people. I offer Thee, in reparation for all those irreverences, that most Precious Blood which Thou didst shed from the wound in Thy Left Hand, and, entering therein, I say every moment:
Blessed and praised every moment
Be the most holy and divine Sacrament
Pater noster. Ave Maria. Gloria Patri.

This prayer can be found in the Raccolta.

So...........Cardinal Kasper.

Cardinal Kasper, have you forgotten Africans like St. Benedict the Black, St. Marcellinus (left Africa and went to France as a missionary), St. Perpetua and Felicity, Pope St. Victor (first African pope), and Blessed Isidore Bakanja and Blessed Annuarite Nengapeta? They and St. Charles Lwanga and his companions have a lot to teach you sir. You should listen to them.

Blessed Anuarite Nengapeta, marytr. 

Update: Cardinal Kasper denies saying anything rude about Africans in his interview. The reporter has a recording. 

Dear Synod Fathers....God hates divorce.

This is a marvelous work showing a couple that judging by the wife's face have hit a rocky patch in their marriage and she's ready to kick the door open and head to a divorce lawyer. It looks like the couple has gone to the rectory for advice and the dear old priest is cajoling, pleading and preaching that they remember their vows and get past whatever it is that has brought them to this point. I wish the bishops at the synod could see it.

Salvator Mundi

Like Gold From the Furnace

“From 30 feet away she looked like a lot of class. From 10 feet away she looked like something made up to be seen from 30 feet away.” Raymond Chandler from "The High Window"

That quote from Raymond Chandler came to my mind after reading Patrick Archbold's post  (which so far, over 70 people have commented on), about the state of the USA. He thinks it's over. Ann Barhardt has said on many occasions that it's already dead and starting to stink but we just haven't been paying attention.  Patrick isn't sure of what will happen next and Miss Barnhardt is expecting a nasty, violent collapse complete with looting, rape and murders. I haven't really formed a guess yet but I am sure this: politics is not going save us. Our only hope is in the Lord. Probably in two or three generations from now the USA that we know will be completely, obviously no more. God willing something better will come out of the fire like gold from a furnace. 

To the Blessed Sacrament

I adore Thee profoundly, my Jesus; I acknowledge Thee present in the most holy Sacrament. By this act of adoration, I would make amends for the forgetfulness of so many Christian people, who, when they see Thee go to the poor sick, to be their strength in their great journey to eternity, leave Thee unescorted, and hardly give Thee even one outward sign of homage. I offer Thee, in reparation for this coldness, that most Precious Blood which Thou didst shed from the wound in Thy Right Foot, and, entering therein, I say and will never cease to say:
Blessed and praised every moment
Be the most holy and divine Sacrament!
Pater noster. Ave Maria. Gloria Patri.


Taken from the Raccolta.

Mass without pews

A Mass on the battlefield.

This is wrong

 Imagine that I am your servant and I have come to your house with a guest. The guest does not like you so not only do I ask you to stay out of the living room and dinning room while the guest is present but I cover up all the photographs of you and your family because this might offend or at least discomfort the guest. You'd think me mad wouldn't you? Even if you didn't tell me to get the heck out  but instead, for love of me, you kindly put up with this extraordinary request, you would at least consider yourself ill treated and would ponder my lack of love and respect for you.   The intent here is well meaning but we all know what road that leads to. 

For he that shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him the Son of man shall be ashamed, when he shall come in his majesty, and that of his Father, and of the holy angels. Luke 9:26

RIP Fr. Groeschel

Yesterday I was thinking about him as I walked back to work from lunch. Today I read that he's passed away at 81. Rest in peace, Father.

To the Blessed Sacrament...

ACTS OF ADORATION AND REPARATION TO JESUS IN THE BLESSED SACRAMENT.

 I adore Thee profoundly, my Jesus, in the Blessed Sacrament; I acknowledge Thee true God and true Man. By this my act of adoration I intend to make Thee reparation for the coldness of so many of Thy people, who pass before Thy churches, nay, before Thy very tabernacle, where hour after hour Thou dost deign to dwell in loving impatience to communicate Thyself to Thy faithful; yet do not even bow the knee before Thee, but, like the Israelites in the wilderness, seem by their indifference to loathe this heavenly manna. I offer Thee Thine own most Precious Blood which Thou didst shed from the wound in Thy Left Foot, in reparation for this hateful coldness, and, entering therein, I say, and will never cease to say:
Blessed and praised every moment
Be the most holy and divine Sacrament.
Pater noster. Ave Maria. Gloria Patri. 



From the Raccolta.

Three Nuns

Alter Cristus